VICTORIA — The Nisga'a Nation has signed an agreement with the B.C. government to receive benefits from proposed liquefied natural gas projects.
The band from the northwest coast would get at least $6 million from the province for a proposed natural gas pipeline that would pass through parts of its treaty lands.
The Prince Rupert Gas Transmission Pipeline would service the proposed multibillion-dollar Petronas Pacific Northwest LNG project at Lelu Island.
The Nisga'a deal also ensures the First Nation will receive a yet-to-be-determined share of $10 million in ongoing benefits from the pipeline.
Nisga'a Nation president Mitchell Stevens says elders, chiefs and elected representatives voted to support the agreement, which includes removing more than 63 hectares of land from the Nisga'a Memorial Lava Bed Park to accommodate the pipeline.
Stevens says the Nisga'a are on board when it comes to LNG development, but the final decision rests with Petronas, which has yet to decide whether to proceed with its project.
